Mixer

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: Recently I produced the new Nightbirde album. After Jane passed away, her family wanted to release more of her music. It was an honor to create music using just her vocal for the new album. To see it charting in over 50 countries was so incredible. To be a part of sharing her story is such an honor.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: A range of projects - mixing some songs, Producing some songs, and creating some new sample packs for Splice.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Jordan Grace is an incredible topliner and vocalist. Love working with him and highly recommend him to others.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I use both - analog hardware and synthesizers etc, then into the digital domain. I'm not a purist - I love both formats and enjoy the sonic contrasts between the two.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: You'll always get my sincerest efforts to make your music feel really special and tangible. I want YOU to love it.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Helping people sound better than they ever thought they could. Inspiring and empowering music makers to get the sound in their head coming out of the speakers.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: Question - "can we make it sound like 'x'" My answer is always "Let's try and make it sound like YOU"

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: That I'm a miracle worker. I can do a lot of things - but reading minds isn't one of them. Make sure you define your creative vision clearly for yourself, so you can communicate it well to the people you're collaborating with.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Do you have a reference song or a way to describe what you're looking for? It's hard to give someone what they want if they can't articulate it themselves.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Just make sure you're getting someone who understands the emotion that you're wanting the music to convey.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: SM7B, Apollo Twin, Dynaudio Monitors, Korg DW8000 Synth, and my custom Strat.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I started as a guitar player, and lived in China and Indonesia playing for the Hard Rock Cafe. Moved to the USA in 2012 to begin working more seriously on my production and songwriting career.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Definitely eclectic, but the sense of scale, emotion, and varying degrees of nostalgia always seem to find their way into my music.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: I'd love to work with 070 Shake or Fred Again.... - both so different from each other but they both have such a sense of emotion and dynamic.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Always make something stick out and grab the listener's attention - even if it feels a little wrong. It always adds some element of excitement and 'danger' to a song.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: I work on a range of things, but mostly I'm working on pop, Cinematic, Cinematic Hip Hop (think trailers and sports) and Synthwave-inspired pop.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I think my strongest skills are amplifying the emotion of a song, and also getting the vocals to sound incredible.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I have a love for strong melody, for getting the groove really sitting nice, and for creating epic synth and drum tones. I think I bring a strong sense of scale and dynamics to the music I work on.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Depends on the project - If I'm producing the key thing is to get the vibe up and running as fast as possible, as i find the first 30 minutes really sets the tone for the session. I like to work fast and follow my instincts - create a picture of the song quickly then take the time to flesh out the myriad of little details. If I'm mixing, I like to find the magic moments in the song and try to amplify those.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I'm running a Mac Pro with Apollo interfaces, using Logic. I have a tonne of guitars and basses, synths, and drums all set up ready to roll. Got some nice front end for capturing sounds but tend to work in the computer once it's all captured. Using some nice Dynaudio monitors and have vibey lights because, well, why not?

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: I love hearing what people are working on - from hitmakers, to my friends, to random people on the internet. So much creativity out there!

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: I do full productions, track production, mixing, vocal editing / tuning, and 'finishing'.